A Story within a Story

Advent has been defined as a time for expectant waiting and preparation for the birth of the Messiah. It is often celebrated in churches by engaging in certain traditions like the lighting of candles, singing of hymns and engaging with a story. I like stories. They sometimes help me understand complex ideas in a personal way. I think we could even consider the story of Jesus' birth as a story within a story.

The story of Jesus' birth is centrally located within a much larger story that encompasses the entire bible. Genesis commences the impressive story with an unprecedented grand display of creative genius. It includes the most awe-inspiring claim. The creator God called everything good. The piece de resistance of the creation event was humanity. Man and woman were authorized by God to have dominion. Chapter three of the story describes a decision that had implications not only for the man and woman in particular but for all creation in general for eternity.

The bible is a comprehensive story. It describes how the cosmos came from nothing and ends with the revelation of God's hopeful destination - a great holy city. The story is unparalleled in its scope, depth, beauty, and truth as it unfolds page after page, chapter after chapter. God remains consistent as the story's central character. His story includes relationships with people from every strata of humanity.

The story we will tell during Advent includes four kings: David, Solomon, Hezekiah and Josiah. Jesus is a direct descendent of these kings and is often referred to as the Son of David. Jesus fulfills God's primary role as ruler is the big idea for the series. God chose to establish his kingdom on earth by working through the people of Israel. His promise to Abraham was that his offspring would be a great nation. A great nation must have leaders. The Israelites asked for a king. These great kings foreshadowed the coming of the King of Kings we celebrate this season.

For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV

-Pastor Jen

A King's Word

Solomon. His name evokes the very essence of wisdom.

The closest Israel ever gets to the Messianic ideal of being a light to all nations is during his reign. Peace, prosperity and a unique leadership role are established. His wisdom is often credited to his style of judgment. Solomon’s ability to discern right and wrong was a gift from God. You may read more from I Kings 3.  

Solomon ultimately fulfilled his father’s dream. A permanent place to worship God was built. Afterwards, Israel skyrocketed into an unprecedented time of blessing and Israel developed a reputation as a nation that honored God and followed his way of life.

However, Solomon’s heart turned from God. Wealth was brought to Solomon in ways that may be difficult for us to comprehend. ‘The weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold.’ I Kings 10:14. (NRSV) A reckless pursuit of more cast a shadow over his heart. As a king, Solomon had experienced and done everything under the sun but in the end he found it all meaningless.  

In his book, Immortal Diamond: The Search for our True Self, Richard Rohr wrestles with our present-day challenges with the reckless pursuit of more. His favorite quote is from Thomas Merton, “If I had a message to my contemporaries it is surely this: be anything you like…but at all costs avoid one thing: success. If you are too obsessed with success you will forget to live. If you have learned only how to be a success, your life will be totally wasted.” (page 7)

Maybe Solomon’s wisdom is best expressed not in his administration of justice but understood by reading his final words from Ecclesiastes. ‘The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for that is the whole duty of everyone. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 NRSV

Thankful...in all Circumstances

Can I be thankful in any circumstance?

Last week I wrote about the discipline of gratitude. The ability to give thanks in all circumstances is an indicator of my spiritual health. As a Christ follower, I am challenged to find the courage to give thanks through difficult circumstances and unanswerable situations. This discipline alone has been one of the most profound in over twenty five years of ministry.

It wasn't until I worked through my own experiences of disappointment, despair, agony and isolation that I could grasp the reasoning behind God's command for his people to give thanks. Precious jewels like peace, understanding, sacrifice and humility were hidden within the complex activity of giving thanks. I found emotional release and psychological relief in the midst of personal turmoil and grief as I gave thanks to God in all my circumstances.

I discovered that giving thanks to God in all circumstances created a bond of security and hope with him. Gratitude kept my heart healthy and un-offended. When we receive the benefits of this revelation, our thanksgiving to God doesn’t rely on the circumstances around us, but rather, the strength we find from a good God in us.

The circumstances we face may be grim and our questions may go unanswered. But, if we give thanks in the middle of these circumstances, we will come to know God in ways we could never imagine. Knowing God. He is our reward.

"No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." I Thessalonians 5:18 [The Living Bible]

Grateful to Move On

I hit the wall.

 

Sometimes I get stuck. Busy lives filled with demands of work, family and friends can be draining. Sometimes I feel like I'm constantly vision casting and trying to propel things forward but receive little or no movement in response. Visions can get overwhelmed with details. Sometimes I find my original thoughts and hopes hijacked by a powerful personality or a situation that emerges. Pretty soon I just give up. I hit the wall.

Maybe you've had that experience, too. The only thing that really helps me move on is gratitude. Thankfulness can shift my attitude and compliment what has already been accomplished. Thankfulness helps me recognize that subtle nudges over time move visions along further than I realize.

 

Thankfulness is a discipline. True humility can saturate our heart and mind when we are disciplined to be thankful. In the book of Leviticus, we read how God provided a similar way for the people of Israel to be thankful and to give praise. They were to bring a peace offering that affirmed their covenant and identified them as a fellowship. Interestingly, peace, gratitude and fellowship were all seamlessly woven together in this important Levitical offering. If you want to learn more about the peace offering, click here.

 

Gratitude releases us from self-pity. It challenges us to identify God's greater creativity in the lives of others and consider the bigger picture. God is always at work in the larger scheme of life. We can all be thankful for the little wins along the way that lead to greater wins God's way. We start a new mini-series this week called Thank•ol•o•gy: The Study of Being Thankful. Being thankful is God's idea. It can transform us from selfish individuals who believe in entitlement and deservedness into humble people who are inspired to do good things for God and others.

"From the fullness of his grace we have received on blessing after another. For the law came through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." John 1:16-17 [NIV]

Not in All Israel

It's not hard to believe in God when God is all you have.

 

The words still slice through my heart and mind. Manal is a wife and mother with a mind for business. She manages her household well. Her husband works three jobs to bring home enough money to maintain their standard of living on the west bank of the Palestinian territory. She is a friend of mine. Our hearts are unmistakably intertwined. I guess you could say we are soul-sisters.

 

I met Manal during my first trip to Israel. Our tour guide invited my husband and I to have dinner in Manal's home with a small group of American travelers in January of 2001. My first trip to Israel was rush of culture and politics. I felt a constant level of anxiety while traveling in the Middle East.  My anxiety increased every time I tried to communicate with street vendors or discern important locations with very little success. Arabic, Hebrew and English are very complex languages that have very little in common. In truth, I was terrified of going into Palestinian territory with a group of people I hardly knew. I desperately prayed for safety as I sat in the backseat of the Volkswagen minivan driven by a Palestinian cab driver with loud Arabic music blaring from the cheap speakers.

 

I was secretly embarrassed by my short-sightedness and prejudices as we were greeted with extraordinary hospitality upon arrival at Manal's home. She hugged me like a long-lost sister the moment I walked in. She whisked me into her kitchen and educated me about her secrets of making all her traditional dishes. I felt like I was in the presence of a Palestinian Julia Child!

 

God must've hoped I would learn significant lessons during my first trip to Israel-Palestine. I admired Manal. I learned how complete strangers could extravagantly extend themselves to make others feel welcome. My relationship with Manal set the tone for my other mission adventures. Sometimes we are the recipient of the greater lesson when we say yes to God. While chopping carrots, I can still hear Manal's voice in my mind saying, "It's not hard to believe in God when God is all you have."

 

Investing in mission isn't always about changing the lives of others. Sometimes, the mission field is located in the center of our own heart.

 

When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith." Matthew 8:10

Go Ahead and Build Ten Cities!

A broken-hearted friend sat in my office crying. Her words were not unfamiliar. She asked, "Why does this always happen to me?" It was the word always that got my attention because I notice patterns. I take note of behaviors I see repeated or I hear repeated. I believe much of our lives are lived in specific behavioral patterns. For example, think about your morning routine or the route you drive daily. We can sometimes change our patterns if they're pointed out to us. So, I asked her a question.

 

"Do you automatically trust everyone or do they have to earn it over time?" The tears stopped. She sat dumbfounded. She recognized a pattern. She repeatedly trusted people until they gave her a reason not to trust them. Unfortunately, that behavior pattern got her the same results over and over again because she trusted the same type of person. Once she recognized the broken heart pattern in her life, she could choose to change it. So, we worked on defining some new trust-building behavioral patterns and found creative ways to implement them into her life.

 

Wikipedia defines trust as "reliance on another person or entity." Trust is relational. It's developed over time.

 

Once again, I recognized a behavioral pattern as I listened to stories about our church's amazing efforts to fund mission work called Faith Promise. For most people, it started out small. They prayed, asked God what he wanted them to give, committed to a specific amount and when God provided they returned the blessing. I noticed a pattern emerge in the lives of seasoned Faith Promise participants. Their giving increased year after year. They credited their financial increase to a stronger relationship with God. Trust developed over time. When people were faithful with a small amount God trusted them with more. The lasting impact was a deeper more fulfilling relationship with God as they were trusted to return his blessing.

 

Imagine what may happen if we could be trusted with more. Envision Christ followers who are liberated from the bonds of financial constraint and are trusted with human hearts and eternal lives. Now, we're talking about building God's Kingdom! Let's build it together as his resources flow through believers who will love God, love others and change the world!

 

“‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’ Luke 19:17 NIV

 

Death, Taxes & My Dog

Death. Some people say it's the ultimate fear.

 

Most of us have an opinion or at least a belief about death. Sometimes people are cavalier about it. A man I know once said, "I'm not afraid of death. It's getting there that scares me." Others take a logical route in an attempt to remove death's sting. Benjamin Franklin is credited with clarifying that death and taxes are the only certainty in life. While both of these statements may be true, they're really not helpful.

 

What would you do if you knew you only had one month to live? One Month to Live is a sermon series I used a few years ago that challenged us to think about the way we live. We were inspired to take a serious and truthful look at our values. If we are not clear about what we value, we spend our lives chasing after things that keep us busy but stand in the way of truly fulfilling the purpose God has for us. The dash became a significant symbol for us during the series. You can learn more about the dash here.

 

I believe that Jesus Christ is the only sure thing in life. His resurrection and life are God's ultimate answer to every question I may have about ultimate ends. In Romans 8, the Apostle Paul states that all creation waits to be liberated from its bondage and decay. I hold onto this message because I have hope that not only will people that I love be with me in heaven but my little dog Mulligan will joyfully leap into my arms and lick my face again.

 

Salvation is defined as being saved or protected from harm and being saved or delivered from a dire situation. In religion, salvation is stated as saving one's soul from sin and its consequences. Death is a result of sin and occurs to all creation. The truth is we all need to be rescued and Jesus is the only one who can do it. We cannot save ourselves. We can't handle death on our own. Jesus is fully alive. He stands as a contradiction to the statement, "God won't give you more than you can handle." I can't handle it. But Jesus can. He already did. Absolutely. Powerfully. Eternally.

 

For it is by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves: it is a gift of God. Ephesians 2:8

 

Scary Dreams, Reality & Hope

Dreams and visions sometimes have the ability to shake us up. Scary dreams or nightmares can come from seeds planted in the murky soil of uncertainty. However, reality can be pretty scary if we get lost at the end of a career path, realize our age when physical limitations keep us from reaching an important goal, or struggle with the ambiguity of our future. We may wish for a crystal ball to help guide us as we feel an escalating internal pressure to make the right decision. But for many, the situation or circumstance is completely beyond their control. As a result, making the right decision can cause anxiety and we can feel like there is a monster lurking in the darkness just waiting to pounce!

Recurring dreams may contain some message but we often have a difficult time interpreting the meaning. Dreams and visions are sometimes our internal way of dealing with situations that we cannot control. There will be times when circumstances like timing, geographic location or economic indicators dictate how our situation unfolds. Other times, personal hopes and dreams are dwarfed by the giant of reality. In truth, some dreams may not have any meaning at all and that queasy feeling can be credited to the chimichanga eaten the night before.

Dr. John Townsend is one of my favorite smart people who understands the important role Christian psychology plays for the church. Dream interpretation is discussed here.

Autonomy plays a huge role in our lives. The tricky part is how we handle this freedom. Most of us want the freedom to choose but we fear making a wrong decision. Making the wrong decision feeds our fear of being a failure. The fear of being controlled will be our focus this week as we read about Daniel's dreams and his interpretation of things to come. Daniel's dreams are deeply symbolic and are designed to bring us hope. God gave us the freedom of choice and longs for us to include him in our decision making process. We all struggle with the future and making the best decision possible. Here's the bottom line: perfect love casts out all fear. God's love for us is the reality. Let's focus on that.

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. I John4:18 NRSV

I Needed to Get Out More!

I started ministry as a single person.  Sunday used to be the worst day of the week for me. I would start to dread it on Thursday. So, by Saturday night I was a basket case. Sunday was a family day in my mind. Sunday meant pot roast and mashed potatoes. It was reserved for getting together with people I loved. Sunday morning at church was awesome but it was followed by Sunday afternoon with the glaring reminder that I was alone.

 

On occasion, I was invited to share Sunday brunch with friends and their families. I was encouraged to spend time with other single people or join a singles small group. Although people were trying to be supportive, I felt like a fifth wheel or an extra that just didn't belong. An honored mentor challenged me to think differently about my situation. She taught me that I could look forward to Sunday afternoon by scheduling that precious time as my time to serve the community.

 

It was pretty amazing how much better I felt when I could serve others. There is no shortage of opportunities to serve our elderly population. So, I signed up to do worship services at local nursing homes on Sunday afternoon. I recruited friends to help rake leaves in the fall, shovel snow in the winter and plant flowers in the spring for elderly neighbors. I organized groups to clean up yards, mow weeds and cut the grass of abandoned lots around our community. Sunday afternoon became something that I looked forward to because I could connect with others and I felt like serving was the cure for my loneliness.

 

Fear of abandonment, separation anxiety or being alone is a fear we all share at different life stages. Our significance, worthiness and meaning can be tethered to this fear. Daniel's significance and worthiness are defined by a God who cared deeply about his situation. But there was far more at stake than dealing with Daniel's isolation. Others were watching as God's reputation as a caring compassionate God was on the line. The testimony of outsiders like King Darius gives great credibility to how concerned Daniel's God truly is about this situation. If we understand that God cares deeply about what happens in the lives of other people, we can believe God is also concerned about us and the lions we face.

 

"For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions." Daniel 6:26-27 NIV

Really Scary Movie

I noticed a skeleton hanging from a light post, elaborate spider webs covering bushes, and a witch splat on the side of a house. It must be time for Halloween.  It's the season when we poke fun of fear. Some people decorate the exterior of their house with scary stuff. Other people dress up in costumes and attend parties. Children celebrate Halloween by parading door to door and receiving sweet treats in their trick-or-treat bags. It's all supposed to be a lot of fun. You might be interested in some Halloween history or how Halloween is connected to Christianity. I found this blog to be helpful.

 

However, beneath the celebrative veneer lurks a distinct reality. Fear isn't funny. Fear is very scary and it often keeps us from doing some amazing things. Very smart people study fear. They educate and help us understand our fears. But, all the education in the world doesn't help us unless we work through the tangled web of emotional, mental, physical and psychological barriers ourselves.

 

Fear can be very helpful. It heightens our natural fight or flight response to certain people, events or situations. Many of us have experienced an internal unexpected feeling that triggers an intense awareness of our surroundings. Maybe you stop, listen, look side to side. We are much like our favorite pet which seems to be able to sense the change in a situation or recognize that a sweet treat is within its grasp.

 

Really Scary Movie is the title for our October message series. It's not based on the film genre that generates billions of dollars for the entertainment industry. It is based on the really scary movie that plays in the theater of your mind. This series treats fear with respect. We'll study fear from God's point of view and search scripture for how God tells us over and over again to treat fear. The most awesome outcome for this series is for you to identify whether or not fear stands in the way of accomplishing what God has called you to do for his Kingdom. We can help you take steps to achieve what God asks you to do. Ultimately, we can share our fears and inspire each other to overcome the ones that limit us. Imagine what could happen if we can all learn to respect fear, push through it and work to fulfill the God-honoring possibilities of building his Kingdom here. We could change the world.

 

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV

 

Creative Process

It is God's nature to create and be creative. Creation itself provides the perfect panoply of his handiwork. Every bird that sings, weed that finds refuge in a sidewalk crack or bug that scrambles homeward with its prize reflects the intricate and often complex system creatively working to regenerate an otherwise brutal world. We hardly even take notice of such wonders.

 

Joseph gets a front row seat as God reveals the sometimes painful side of his creativity.

 

God works in creative ways to restore the broken relationships in Joseph's family. This has been the overarching theme throughout the Crazy Mixed Up Family series. God restores the family by working through each broken person.  Joseph is led through a refining process that took years in the making. Joseph's refinement included a number of defining moments in which he surrendered his rights and privileges as a favorite son in order to bring salvation for his people. The process of becoming the redeemer was not without some painful regenerations along the way.

 

Salvation is an intricate and complex creative work of God. Redeeming broken people is God's life work. We can never underestimate the lengths God is willing to go in order to save a human soul. The creative, complex, redemptive work often includes moments of anguish much like that of Joseph and his family. God's creative process brings forth new life with the painful revelation of sacrifice. We must give up the old to create the new.

 

My prayer is that you find hope for your own crazy mixed up family and that you take notice of the wonder of salvation. Joseph's story reveals God's mysterious creative work in the lives of each individual family member. There were moments of destruction, pain and grief. But, God continued to work through individual decisions of sacrifice in order to reconcile the whole family. He did it through Joseph. May he do it through you.

 

But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Genesis 50:19-20 NIV

Go Ahead and Let Them See You Sweat!

I remember the statement as part of an advertising campaign for an underarm antiperspirant. Very smart people sat in a room together brainstorming ways to sell me something that would help me cover up the body's natural physiological response to stress. I am certain they came up with this advertising campaign slogan because they knew something about human nature. 

We all sweat.

Somehow, their underarm antiperspirant would stop me from sweating. Antiperspirant would convince others I was not sweating therefore projecting the illusion that I am cool, calm and collected under pressure. Their product would give me an edge over other people who sweat giving me the confident assurance I needed to be successful.

 

Underarm antiperspirant would make me successful? Really?

 

I was taught that blood, sweat and tears would make me successful. Hard work, long hours and sacrifice would catapult me into success if I did the right thing, performed perfectly and sacrificed consistently. Evidently, I was supposed to do all this and never let anyone see me sweat in the process. Neither the ad slogan nor the belief system work for me.

 

Maybe there is another way.

 

As a Christ follower, I take my leadership queues from Jesus. He allowed his followers to see everything firsthand: eat, drink, walk, talk, stand, sit, teach. The twelve disciples followed Jesus' every move. Except the sweating part. From scripture, the disciples observed him from a distance sweating drops of blood. How clever. Now, I am included with other voyeurs in the Garden. I hide behind the olive trees alongside other disciples.  I, too, watch every move Jesus makes and the impression of Jesus sweating drops of blood can be seared in my heart forever.  

 

Jesus let a few disciples watch him sweat in private but allowed the public to watch him stumble and struggle all the way up the hill to Calvary. Scripture records it all for eternity.  Vulnerability can be uncomfortable, even unattractive, but it's authentic. I can trust someone who sweats under immense pressure. I can identify with someone who stumbles and struggles and isn't afraid to show it.  I can love someone who isn't afraid of blood, sweat and tears. But, I will follow and try to become like someone who reveals that this is success God's way.

 

Vulnerable. Authentic. Powerful. Savior. Jesus.

 

White Tornado

I was probably in my late twenties when it happened.

 

Chaos is word that could describe my family life through my teen years. It was during my teen years when all my major distractions from following Christ took place. I was really good at blaming everyone else for the mess I was in and took pride in making my parents' lives miserable following their divorce. I call it my white tornado. I was angry, disappointed and hurt. I took most of my emotional frustrations out on my family. I didn't realize until I was about 28 the toll it was taking on my own life.

 

My dad was an easy target. I blamed him for all my poorly made decisions. I was convinced I learned from the 'best.' So, the credit card debt that I ran up in college was his fault. I was good at pinning my irritability and moodiness on my mother. My mom has struggled with MS since my brother was a baby. So, I could blame her for not being there when I needed guidance and I could convince others I was doing the best I could do with the hand I was dealt.

 

Then, God got hold of me. There is no other authority that has his kind of impact. His action was swift and perfect through Sister Mary Margaret my tournament golf partner. We were a popular duo back in those days. We were nicknamed "The God Squad." She noticed how I beat myself up after every errant shot and how my emotions effected my play. God worked through her gentle coaching to show me how my anger was working against me. Sister Mary Margaret knew my family history. I told her of my white tornado. She asked me a question I will never forget. "Are you the cause of the white tornado or does the white tornado come to you?" 

 

I was leveled. My heart was broken. I was the white tornado and my debris was scattered everywhere. 

 

I would like to say that I immediately changed my ways, reconciled with my family and that life is now a bed of roses. It's been two decades of hard work since Sister Mary Margaret asked me that question. I continue to choose the calming solution side of redemption instead of kicking up the wind speed of the turmoil. I feel God is working in me to reach my family. It's daily hard work. But, if God can calm the storm in me, imagine what he can do with you. I keep praying. God's not finished with me yet.

 

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1

The Ultimate Family Reunion

Wisconsin is known for its dense timber. Long ago, European settlers carved their livelihoods from portions of the timber to create a patchwork of small family farms. My ancestors were part of the progress. They came from Denmark, Poland and Germany to do the hard labor of clearing the dense forrest and creating a new life. Some of my ancestors logged the timber of the North Woods and rode the logs down the Wisconsin River. I know my family's history because we tell our story at family gatherings. Sometimes the gatherings are called family reunions.

 

There are stories that all of us love to hear. So one of us young ones throws out the bait in hopes that one of the old ones will take it. The story is usually the same but sometimes the old ones would change a detail or two. We would all correct the story and laugh. We love a great story. Telling a good story is an honor reserved for the honorable.

 

There are stories that may have only been shared once but are unforgettable. They stay stuck in our common memory as something irreducibly precious. These stories are sometimes dark or tragic. Sometimes the story is so graphic, I guard my heart from my own imagination. My ancestors lived a hard life. It was not romantic. It was heartbreak, sadness and poverty. Maybe that's why we love the good stories because there were so few.

 

We share photographs at family reunions. The photos bring memories. Sometimes the memory shared is about the garden grandpa tended, the house the cousins built or a family trip to the ocean. I love the photos. They're treated with respect like they're worth millions of dollars. I've learned to ask about the details and write them on the cardboard backing. Family doesn't live forever this side of heaven.

 

All together in one place was God's idea from the beginning. Imagine that gathering. Start with the first people born of earth to this present moment. God's desire was to have us all together forever.  Eternity is a long time to be able to share our story. Here and now, I can share bits of my story and I promise to listen as you share bits of yours. The way I see it, you and I belong to God's family. You can tell me your good stories. I love a good story. But, we will both know the right time to tell the stories that only need telling once. I promise to handle your story with care and give it with the honor and respect it deserves.

 

Sunday is a special day for us at Wheatland. It's kind of like a great family reunion. We will gather together for worship, pitch a tent, fire up our grills and share life together. Stories will be told and shared. I hope you will come. The story is so much better when you tell it. Imagine God watching expectantly with an anticipation for things to come as we engage in fulfilling his dream of being all together in one place forever.

Christianity's Exclusive Message

There is an exclusivity to Christianity that many do not like. We can trace it back to the original people who decided to follow Jesus. Many heard his teachings that were certainly powerful and life changing. But, a few actually applied them to their reality and that's when life became risky. The Christmas and Easter stories commonly make up what many believe about Jesus today. So, you might be wondering, how could the 'good news' about the baby born in Bethlehem or the even better news of Easter be risky? Like the Oreo cookie, the good stuff is found inbetween.

 

Jesus promised that someone greater would come after him. He said his followers would do greater things because he would return to the Father. The Holy Spirit would bring power. The Spirit would reveal God's truth about Jesus. This power threatened every alternative for understanding God. Jesus' exclusive claim to be God's son would set many on edge and eventually redirect the entire world. But, not toward peace as many would have it. Jesus redirected his followers into a battle. He encouraged them to cross every socially accepted line into a life that challenged the status quo of religious mediocrity.

 

Religiousity was not the answer Jesus left with his followers. Religion focused on what people did for God and not what God did for people. Religion tamed people like perfomers in the proverbial circus tent with trained wild animals performing very believable acts. Christianity would be very different. The lifestyle of a follower would reveal powerful evidence of a life that fully embraced the mission and purpose of Jesus. It would challenge every facet of religion, society, government and eventually the world stage. The hallmark of the Christ follower's life would be death. The Apostle Paul wrote that death would be a daily activity. I die every day! That is as certain, brothers and sisters, as my boasting of you—a boast that I make in Christ Jesus our Lord.I Corinthians 15:31 NIV.

 

It was a Sabbatical year in the Galilee. 5,000 men listened to the remarkable words of Jesus and 4,000 men gathered on the other side of the lake to receive his vision. Religious leaders anxiously watched and interpreted that an army was being assembled. The evidence of public miracles, exorcisms, and raising men from the dead ingited a holy conspiracy within the religious elite to rid the world of this powerful young leader. The exclusivity of Christianity had little to do with a world of peace. The exclusivity of Jesus would be confirmed by the Spirit of Truth. God's mission and vision would be realized in the lives of those who would follow Jesus Christ. Personal transformation is only one level of change. The risk is revealed when Christ followers apply the teachings to reality and change the world. I can't think of anything more exhilerating or risky. Can you? 

 

Jesus said, 'You are the salt of the earth. But, if salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.' Matthew5:13 NIV

-- 
Tyler R. Hughes

My Prejudice

The Pharisees.

The word set me on edge from the time I was in junior high. I was taught to hate Pharisees from the early stages of my Christian walk. I was taught Pharisees were the enemy of Jesus, hated Christians and killed Stephen - the first Christian martyr. I hated Pharisees. My hatred of Pharisees intensified over the years as the same interpretation was reinforced by pastors, teachers and professors. I was convinced the Pharisees were part of the Jews who accused, arrested, tried and killed Jesus! I was taught by people I respected with Biblical authority. I was taught....so I thought....right?

 

On one of my trips to Israel, a rabbi challenged me to learn about the Pharisees before I made any judgment about them. How could I make such a blanket statement of an entire group of people? What did it say about me of I only allowed one opinion into my heart? The rabbi challenged me to go deeper and find out if my judgment was truthful.

 

The truth was I knew nothing about first century Judaism. I was never taught about rabbinical schools. I didn't know names like Rabbi Akiva, Rabbi Hillel, or Rabbi Shammai. I didn't understand the power a first century rabbi had as he selected students (talmidim) to follow him. I didn't know the theological arguments of the day or how each school interpreted scripture. I knew nothing of the great teacher's legacies or their powerful teaching. Their influence remains to this day as the main streets in Jerusalem are named Akiba, Hillel, Shammai. A whole new world opened for me. If you want to know more, please begin your exploration here to find out more about these great men. http://www.fishingtheabyss.com/archives/203

 

The truth is sometimes like a water droplet into a pond. One droplet of it can expand our mind and heart. It's purity has a power that defies logic. Scripture makes a case for truth as the power to set us free. The wise rabbi knew what he was doing with this talmidim and I love him all the more for it. As I learned to put aside my prejudice, I recognized another rabbi standing on the beaches of the Sea of Galilee. His words dropped into my heart and changed it forever. All he had to say was 'follow me.'

The Truth About Worship

Worship is a big deal to God. He knew it would be a big deal for us.

 

Worship is about what's going on in our heart, soul and mind. We tend to forget there's a war going on for our eternal soul. We are easily distracted. Once we're distracted, we believe worship is more about us than it is about God. We follow rabbit trails down deep holes into the darkness. Rabbit trails about style, content and environment lead us into further confusion and doubt. And that's exactly what our enemy wants us to do-get lost in the darkness!

 

But God shines a light into our darkness to help us find our way to Him. The true light that gives light to every one has come into our dark world. His name is Jesus. 

 

He doesn't need our worship but we need to worship Him. Jesus set us free from the truth that nothing we do could make us right before a holy God. Jesus did that for us. He makes us right and that's why we worship him. Our worship of him can be one of the most holy experiences on earth. Where two or more are gathered in his name, he is there with them. Corporate worship is a beautiful thing. Only God could invent it. Who would ever cast a vision of billions of people gathered together in one place forever in worship? It is only God's presence that makes this vision possible.

 

Worship is a big deal for us at Wheatland Salem Church. Jesus Christ made us right and secured our place with God for eternity. We worship Jesus for what he has done for us now and look forward to when our worship of him will last forever.

 

"All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being  in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it." John 1:3-5 NRSV

The Hardcore Leadership Junkie's Dream: The Global Leadership Summit

The Willowcreek Global Leadership Summit is this week. I've been attending this event since 1997. It's the only event of this caliper and scope. No one does leadership like Willow. No one.

Amazing things happen when leaders take responsibility for their own development. A 'smash & grab' leader realizes her style creates more problems because she's deemed as untrustworthy and arrogant. A timid leader develops courage to have tough conversations and gains confidence in his decision making. A seasoned leader mentors others and finds an authentic way to share his leadership lessons on pain, grief and suffering.

I hope all leaders want to get better at leading, but that's not always the case. Unfortunately, leaders are some of the hardest people to convince they need to develop their skill set. Leaders are notorious for being trapped in the tower of their own making. Hard lessons are often taught as towers fall and leaders stand in the rubble wondering what went wrong.

The GLS has changed and developed over the years much like many of us who are hard core leadership junkies. What the changes reveal to me is exactly why I continue to attend each and every year. GLS leadership practices the humility they intentionally teach. They listen to feedback, discern the truth communicated and apply great ideas to innovate. They take participants seriously and honor who we are as leaders.

The GLS leadership serves leaders by providing a platform of world-renowned speakers who have expertise in areas from organizational health to eradicating global poverty. I've never left a Summit disappointed. I am always challenged as a leader when I leave. I go home with way too much to try and sift out. It takes days, weeks and years to apply what I learn. I am a better leader because of this event.

The Wheatland Salem staff will attend the GLS at a satellite facility in Naperville. My husband, Bill and I, will attend at 'ground zero' in Barrington. All year, I long for the experience to be in the room when the leaders take the stage and present their leadership wisdom. My hope and prayer is that God will ignite a passion in our leadership team to develop personal habits of becoming better leaders and allow God to reveal his will for us at WSC.

My Mission, Should I Accept It?

I can't stand it! I can't stand it anymore!

It's the thing that you complain about most and absolutely gets your blood boiling. When you see it happening, strong emotions well up within you that are difficult to control. This thing has the power to wreck you, take you to your knees and beg God to do something! Mercy is out the window. Pride evaporates. Reputation is worthless.

This is your mission.

For Moses, it was slavery. Growing up in a powerful wealthy household couldn't quench it.

"One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were and watched them in their hard labor." Exodus 2:11. Pharaoh built a thriving economy on the backs of slave labor. People with no rights and little hope for the future were forced to construct monuments to mere mortals exemplifying the ultimate in irony. Monuments designed to honor the achievements of men, stand to this day as a testimony of what evil will do when unleashed within the hearts of unredeemed people.

But, then it happened. Moses had to do something! 

"He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. Glancing this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand." Exodus 2:11-12.  When was the last time you witnessed a beating? I don't mean a scripted, staged, beautifully enhanced movie scene. I am asking you, if you have ever experienced a real-life beating? It's something we never forget and an affirmation that broken people live in a broken world.  Our mission is revealed when we painstakingly take the time to sort through our emotions and find it.

Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to find where your pain threshold meets God's resources and allow it to become your mission to  change the broken world. God has the fuel source to keep your mission white-hot. The greater question is how much longer can you remain in the crowd when God is challenging you to do something?

(For further reading and inspiration read Holy Discontent: Fueling the Fire that Ignites Personal Vision. Bill Hybels. Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan. 2007.)

The Red Sea, Personal Transformation and Me

Personal transformation begins to make more sense if we can integrate the daily life with our faith. For many of us, we attend worship and feel inspired to lead a Christian life. But, driving away from that experience, the avalanche of reality piles onto us. We’re faced with managing careers, homes and families.  It’s almost like we didn’t worship God at all. We head back to the grind of daily living and leave God behind.

What if there was a way to integrate faith and daily living? God often works in practical ways. It’s not always parting the Red Sea or raising people from the dead. Most of Christian living is done outside our small group and the church! It’s in the everyday occasions that we work out what we believe.

Personal transformation is about the person we are to become. As followers of Christ, we want to be shaped into his image and likeness. So asking what Jesus would do in any situation is a great start. But, we have to follow through and do it.  It’s risky to actually do what God prompts us to do. But, you can do this!

Here’s some ideas to get you started:

          Stop for the student who's obviously troubled and ask them how you can help.

          Notice the books people read on the plane or train and ask them about it.

While grocery shopping, encourage someone with a screaming child who looks like they need a break.

Talk to your friends openly about how difficult it is to follow Christ every day.

Personal transformation isn’t an exact science. You may not work your first miracle or walk on water. But you will see results by trying each day to follow Christ in practical ways. By the end of the work week as you prepare for worship on Sunday, you may notice that it’s not so different than what you do during the week. Then God gets the glory and your image looks a lot like his son, Jesus. Ultimately, being more like Jesus is our goal.

Influence

Stop and think for a moment about what influences our next generation. Relationships are a major factor but imagine how much time they spend on social media, watching television and surfing the internet. I found this article to be especially helpful with educating myself about some of the major influences they face.

I felt a sense of urgency as I prepared for this weekend's message. I believe God is challenging us to prioritize leading the next generation. As Christ followers, our personal attempts to live a life that is pleasing to God matter. We must encourage one another to build strong bonds of community within the church. The stronger we are as a team, the stronger our message will be. 

But, it's not just about us. It's about them. It's about those outside that are lost and searching for answers. This week, we focus on the next generation as we continue to discuss our Wheatland ethos. You play a vital role in building God's Kingdom. Come, learn and be challenged.

You Have to be Carefully Taught

Have you seen those AT&T commercials? The ones with the serious guy asking kids questions?
Their answers crack me up. Kids say the darnedest things.

So, why do they say those things? Good question. Human nature.

We have to be carefully taught.
We have to be carefully and lovingly taught NOT to....
     ....have any other gods but God
     ....misuse God's name
     ....work until we're grumpy, crabby & burned out
     ....dishonor our parents or anyone else in authority
     ....murder
     ....have sex with someone else' spouse
     ....take something that doesn't belong to us
     ....lie or embellish the truth in anyway
     ....want things other people have

This is God's baseline. Try working on this list just for today. After all, we're only kids and we say and do the darnedest things.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H3R-rtWPyJY

The Importance of the Right People

We are creatures of habit. Once we are trained, we can complete extremely complex tasks without even thinking. Driving. Cooking. Making love.

Like water, we gravitate toward the path of least resistance. We naturally look for the easiest route, the shortest distance, or the road with the fewest delays. Think Mapquest.

Scientists and sociologists spend entire careers studying this phenomenon. Imagine the fascination of a neuroanatomist as she peers into a microscope and studies slide samples of your brain. Carefully trained, she writes down copious notes about the brain architecture that supports your behavior, memories and thought processes.

Now, imagine there's only a short paragraph written about you. Why? Habit.

Great leaders, entrepreneurs and explorers find new ways of doing things. They continuously innovate and create. They are notorious risk-takers. They discover patterns and use them to their advantage. To borrow a famous marketing phrase, "they never stop exploring." (Thanks, Northface.) Neuroanatomists tell us our brains physically reflect how the mind works as we learn and assimilate new information. 

The way I see it, we have a choice to make. 

1.  We can choose to live within the safety of our established habits and we can actually be happy doing this. We can live in the same neighborhood, eat the same food, work in the same job and love the same people our whole lives. Life is predictable and relationships are automatic.

2.  We can choose to live a life of constant frustration and challenge. Learning new things is difficult, often painful and requires us to sacrifice what we know now for something we may eventually discover in the future. Some relationships will be intense, passionate and short-lived. Other relationships will change because we constantly develop and grow. Few things stay the same.

3.  Or, we can choose some hybrid of the two.

Here's my challenge: be sure you have the right people in your life that can show you the benefits of both worlds and invite God to play a larger role in your daily living. Give God permission to weigh in on your decision making process. Allow for failure and practice forgiveness. Resilience is the best weapon against the onset of the mundane. Thank God for that brilliant idea, 'aha' moment or confirmation that all will be well. Eventually, you'll notice how seamlessly God integrated people, purpose and meaning into your life. There will be far more than a paragraph written about you. There will be a book. It'll be an extraordinary tale of an original life and it will be yours.

Old Things and Relationships

He said it so succinctly. "You like old things and relationships."

His simple declaration caught me off guard. 

The successful-educated-accomplished Me wanted to jump up and prattle on about what I've done, where I've been and who I know. But, the humble-authentic-imperfect Me embraced this awkward revelation and responded, "You're right! I like old things and relationships."

Old things. The older the better. 

My experiences in the Middle East changed my definition of old. The first time I saw a 5,000 year old altar, I was hooked. The addiction rooted deeply within me as I stumbled through the streets of the Old City of Jerusalem, choked on the dust and sand of archaeological digs and sweated in the mid-day sun at the Dead Sea. A whole new world opened to me. God was more real. So, I began to explore the rich history of the Bible and discover how God knit us together in a whole new way. 

Yes, I like old things.

Relationships.

Before I was 30, I didn't pay much attention to my own hurts, habits and hang-ups. So, relationships were more like train wrecks. It was easier for me to blame others for relational failures than to take responsibility for my own relational health. After all, growing up in the 80's taught me that it was all my parent's fault, right? Wrong! Healthy relationships require a lot of hard work. But our investment in becoming better at being relational reaps huge rewards!

Yes, I like relationships. 

But, I like learning most of all. 

After picking up the pieces from a relationship disaster, I did some soul-searching and made the decision to get a dog from the Humane Society. She was a beagel and her name was Mulligan. I needed to learn how to become more relationally responsible with less wreckage. Over the years, I learned a lot about myself as I stumbled around my own Old City, choked on the dust my own personal excavation and sweated through my own relational Wilderness. 

A whole new world was revealed to me. God opened my heart and unveiled a wide new vista that demanded a commitment of life-long learning. I made a personal commitment to follow Jesus when I was 13. But, at 30 years of age, I began to explore more deeply what it meant to be in relationship with Him. I set out to learn how to value what He valued and I discovered something I didn't expect. 

He valued me. 

God valued me? 

Me. 

God valued me! And that, my friend....has made all the difference.

Take a few minutes and look around you. What would my friend succinctly say about you? What do you value?